In a piece of news that will come as little surprise to those hearing it, HBO‘s well-known fantasy drama Game of Thrones will be return next year for a fifth season… and will have a secure future guaranteed during production of those episodes… with a sixth season confirmed by the network as well.

Capping off a highly successful week for the actual content (as opposed to the channels and technology airing it), the news is basic at present, though it can be presumed that viewers will be able to enjoy 20 new episodes collectively from the two new seasons in yearly patterns, in a similar seasonal structure as seen in the current and previous runs aired on HBO.

Game of Thrones‘ official Facebook page proclaimed the news, stating: “Raise a glass of Dornish wine. Game of Thrones is renewed for Seasons 5 and 6. Send a raven and spread the word across the realm.”

HBO programming president Michael Lombardo noted of his team’s easy decision to renew: “Game of Thrones is a phenomenon like no other. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with their talented collaborators, continue to surpass themselves, and we look forward to more of their dazzling storytelling.”

Not keeping quite as vague were Benioff and Weiss themselves, with the producers having warned back in March that the two new seasons in question are most likely closer to the end of the programme’s storyline and history. Weiss stated at the time: “We know there’s an end somewhere in the seven- or eight-season zone. It’s not something that goes 10, 11—it doesn’t just keep on going because it can. I think the desire to milk more out of it is what would eventually kill it, if we gave in to that.”

Benioff had added: “It feels like this [current time] is the midpoint for us. If we’re going to go seven seasons, which is the plan, season four is right down the middle, the pivot point.”

With a successful start to their fourth season ratings-wise, it comes as little surprise that the programme has received a renewal, news that will come as a pirate’s delight, and the dread of official streaming operators who may need to be better prepared next time around…